AFC North facts for kids

The AFC North is one of the four groups of teams in the American Football Conference (AFC). The AFC is part of the larger National Football League (NFL). This division was created in 2002 when the NFL changed how its teams were organized. The AFC North includes four teams: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Before 2002, these teams were part of the AFC Central division. The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars were also in that older division.

It's interesting to know that no team in the AFC North has ever hosted a Super Bowl in their home stadium. However, teams from this division have won eight Super Bowl titles in total. The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six, and the Baltimore Ravens have won two.

How the AFC North Was Formed

The AFC North has four teams: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. When the AFC Central division first started, it included the Browns, Bengals, Steelers, and the Houston Oilers (who are now the Tennessee Titans).

The AFC North is the only AFC division that doesn't have a team from the original American Football League. However, the Cincinnati Bengals joined the AFL in 1968. The Steelers and Browns joined the AFC in 1970. The Bengals' move to the AFL was planned so they would join the NFL after the AFL and NFL merged in 1970.

Three of the teams in the AFC North have connected histories. Both the Bengals and the Browns were started by a famous person named Paul Brown. The Ravens and the city of Cleveland also have a special connection because the Ravens used to be the Cleveland Browns. Only the Steelers, the oldest team in the division, don't have a direct history with Paul Brown.

History of the AFC North Teams

The 1970s: Steelers Dominate

The AFC Central division began in 1970. The Browns and Steelers brought their rivalry from an older NFL division into the new AFC Central. They were joined by the Houston Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals won the first AFC Central Division Championship in 1970. But the Steelers were the strongest team in the division for most of the 1970s. The Steelers also won four Super Bowls during this time. These were the team's first league titles.

The 1980s: Bengals Reach the Super Bowl

In 1980, the Cleveland Browns broke the Steelers' winning streak as division champions. However, they didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs.

The Bengals were the only team from the AFC Central to play in the Super Bowl during the 1980s. They appeared in Super Bowl XVI in 1981 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1988. Both times, they lost in close games to the San Francisco 49ers.

The 1990s: Big Changes and Close Calls

The Steelers became the top team in the division again in 1992. They won five division titles in six years. They also played in Super Bowl XXX but lost to the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1992, the Houston Oilers were part of a very famous playoff game. They lost a huge 32-point lead to the Buffalo Bills in overtime. This game was known as "The Comeback." It was the biggest comeback in NFL history for almost 30 years.

In 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars joined the league and were placed in the AFC Central. This was the first time the division's structure changed. In 1996, the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. Then, in 1997, the Oilers moved to Tennessee and later changed their name to the Titans in 1999. The Cleveland Browns team was brought back to the NFL in 1999. This meant the division had six teams from 1999 to 2001.

Besides Pittsburgh's Super Bowl appearance, the only other team from the division to reach the Super Bowl in the 1990s was the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. They almost won but came up just one yard short.

The 2000s: New Name, New Champions

The 2000s started with the Baltimore Ravens winning the division and Super Bowl XXXV. Their defense, led by Ray Lewis, was one of the best ever. The Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC Central in 2001.

In 2002, the NFL reorganized its divisions. The Jaguars and Titans moved to the new AFC South. The rest of the AFC Central teams stayed together and were renamed the AFC North. The Bengals, Browns, and Steelers were guaranteed to stay in the same division. This was part of an agreement with the city of Cleveland. This change made the AFC North the division with the shortest driving distances between its teams. The Browns and Steelers, who are close rivals, even take a bus to their games instead of flying!

Since this change, the Steelers have won the division title seven times. The Ravens and Bengals have each won four times. The Steelers won all their divisional games twice, in 2002 and 2008. The Bengals did it in 2009, and the Ravens in 2011.

The Steelers have made the playoffs ten times since 2002. The Ravens have made it eight times, the Bengals seven times, and the Browns two times. In 2005, the Steelers became the first team to win the Super Bowl after entering the playoffs as the last-seeded wild card team. In 2008, the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII, their second Super Bowl in four years. This was their sixth Super Bowl win overall, an NFL record.

In 2009, the Cincinnati Bengals won all six of their divisional games. They were called "Cardiac Cats" because many of their wins were very close. The Ravens also made the playoffs that year.

The 2010s: More Super Bowl Wins and Intense Games

The Ravens won the division again in 2011 and 2012. They went on to win Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. This was their second Super Bowl win.

As of 2012, the Steelers were the most successful team in the AFC North. The Browns were second, and the Ravens were third. The Bengals were the only team in the division with a losing record overall.

In 2015, the Bengals had a great start, winning their first eight games. They finished the season 12–4 and won the division. However, their star quarterback, Andy Dalton, broke his thumb. They lost in the playoffs to the Steelers in a very close game. The Steelers then lost to the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers won the division title in 2016. They made it to the AFC Championship Game but lost to the New England Patriots.

A memorable game in 2017 was a Monday Night Football matchup between the Bengals and the Steelers. The Bengals started with a 17–0 lead, but the Steelers came back to win 23–20. It was a very tough game with many penalties and injuries. When asked about it, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said it was "AFC North football."

The Ravens won the division in 2019. They were the top seed in the AFC playoffs but were upset by the Tennessee Titans.

The 2020s: Playoff Success and Historic Records

The Steelers won the division in 2020. The Ravens and Browns also made the playoffs as wild card teams. For the Browns, it was their first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns beat the Steelers in the wild card round, their first playoff win since 1994. The Ravens also won their wild card game. However, both teams lost in the next round.

The Bengals won the division in 2021. The Steelers also made the playoffs but lost in the first round. The Bengals had a great playoff run, winning against the Raiders, Titans, and Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl. They lost Super Bowl LVI to the Rams in a close game.

The Cincinnati Bengals won the division for the second year in a row in 2022. A game against the Buffalo Bills was stopped and later canceled due to a player's injury. The Bengals still won the division based on their winning percentage. The Ravens also made the playoffs. In the wild card round, the Bengals beat the Ravens in a thrilling game. A key play was a 98-yard fumble return touchdown by Sam Hubbard, the longest in NFL playoff history. The Bengals then upset the Bills in their home stadium. They advanced to the AFC Championship for the second time in a row but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Baltimore Ravens won the division in 2023 and were the top seed in the AFC. All four teams in the AFC North finished the 2023 season with winning records. This was the first time since 1935 that every team in an entire NFL division had a winning record. The Steelers also set a record by having 20 straight seasons with a winning or even record.

In 2024, the Baltimore Ravens won the division again. The Pittsburgh Steelers also earned a wild card spot in the playoffs.

AFC North Team Achievements

Here's a quick look at how the AFC North teams have done in the playoffs:

• Includes records of Houston & Tennessee Oilers and Jacksonville through 2001 season

Future Schedule Matchups

The NFL has a rotating schedule for how divisions play against each other. Here's who the AFC North teams are scheduled to play in future seasons:

Team Rivalries

The AFC North is known for its intense rivalries between the teams:

• Bengals–Browns rivalry
• Bengals–Ravens rivalry
• Bengals–Steelers rivalry
• Browns–Ravens rivalry
• Browns–Steelers rivalry
• Ravens–Steelers rivalry

Past Rivalries

Some rivalries existed with teams that are no longer in the division:

• Ravens–Titans rivalry
• Steelers–Titans rivalry

See also

In Spanish: AFC Norte para niños